The VRQA conducted a regulatory campaign focused on women civil construction apprentices and trainees.
This followed a complaint from a woman civil construction apprentice treated very poorly in the workplace – promised skilled work but given unskilled work, denied the right to workplace training, prevented from working on civil construction equipment like diggers and front end loaders.
We upheld the complaint and removed that employer’s approval to employ civil construction apprentices and trainees in Victoria.
Is this a widespread problem for women apprentices and trainees in the Victorian building and construction industry?
To answer this question, in September 2023, we launched the BuildUP campaign.
Regulatory approach
Our starting point is to seek compliance through education and support. However, where necessary, we will use our full range of regulatory powers and tools to secure compliance.
Our main sanctions are the power to cancel:
- an employer’s approval to employ apprentices and trainees in Victoria
- training contracts.
Read VRQA's Regulatory approach statement.
Updated